Leading off ... and leading on the field
SLIPPERY ROCK — Not many catchers hit lead-off in fast-pitch softball.
Still fewer do so for the reason Slippery Rock High School senior Julianna Hutchinson is hitting in that spot this season.
“We count on her to drive in runs for us and hit for some power — and we still do,” Rockets coach Dan Hindman said. “But if I bat her first, teams can't pitch around her.
“It's kinda hard to walk the first batter who comes up to the plate.”
In Hutchinson's case, teams may want to start thinking about it.
She collected 11 hits in her first 17 at bats this season before going hitless in three at bats, along with drawing a walk, Thursday against Hickory. She has three homers, three doubles and a triple among her 11 hits.
Hutchinson has also driven in 11 runs while scoring that many in Slippery Rock's first five games this season.
“She's a gap hitter and a power hitter,” Hindman said. “We're counting on Julianna for a lot of things this year.”
Hutchinson hit .403 with 20 RBI and 14 doubles as the No. 4 hitter in the Rockets' lineup last season, when the team, finished 17-5 and won the District 10 championship.
Five stellar seniors from that team graduated last spring.
“I do feel like I have to be more of a leader now, show the younger players the way a little bit,” Hutchinson said. “I believe this team has talent, but we're inexperienced right now.
“We're going to get better as we go along.”
Hutchinson wants to do more than win this year. She wants to set up more winning for the Rockets next season as well.
“That's how I want to leave the program,” she said. “I want this team to be in position to win next season. I guess maybe I am a transition player that way, trying to keep the program consistent.”
She's been a consistent player in her own right.
Hutchinson hit .400 her sophomore year. She has been playing summer softball with the Thunder Elite out of Youngstown the past three years. That team played tournaments in Atlanta, Peoria (Ill.) and throughout Ohio.
Thunder Elite plays approximately 40 games each summer — and Hutchinson is behind the plate for all of them.
“I've got bruises all over the place,” she said, smiling. “It gets tough back there, but I love playing catcher.
“I love being able to see the whole field. And I'm in closer communication with our coach all the time back there.”
Hindman said Hutchinson's knowledge of the game “definitely helps her skills on the field. She is a very intelligent player.“Julianna is the heart and soul of our team.”She's been playing fast-pitch softball since age 6. She became a catcher at age 9 and has been steadily handling that position since.That may change soon, as Hutchinson is headed across the street to Slippery Rock University to play next season.“I've been getting some work in at third, shortstop and second,” Hutchinson said. “SRU has a pretty good catcher who's a sophomore. My goal is to play for them as a freshman, but I doubt it will be behind the plate.”SRU sophomore catcher Leah Vith is hitting .289 with a pair of home runs this season. The Rock has a freshman, Kristen Hewitt, backing her up.Defensively behind the plate, Hutchinson is as good as it gets.“She takes pride in her defense,” Hindman said. “Last year, with Chey (veteran pitcher Hindman) pitching, nothing got past her. She never has any passed balls and she's got a strong arm back there.”Hutchinson plans to major in the business field in college.“Absolutely, she can play there right away,” Hindman said of Hutchinson's transition to SRU. “Julianna has played a lot of high-level softball and she's accustomed to facing good competition.“I know she'll work hard at it. Whether she gets on the field her freshman year, I believe, is up to her.”Hutchinson also considered Penn State Behrend, Indiana (Pa.) and Edinboro before opting for SRU.“I've got younger sisters and they'll be able to see me play a lot,” she said. “Just going across the street for a college career is a pretty good deal.”
